Big Jim (Dean Norris) tries yet again to get his hands on the egg in Monday’s “Under the Dome.” — CBS photo

Changing leaves, falling temperatures and teens cuddling for warmth under colorful quilts. It must be fall. Or it will be if the dome has anything to say about it, as the wild weather continues with a rapidly approaching chill. As the coats come out, the gloves come off as everyone readies their plans to escape Chester’s Mill over the Cliff of Destiny (copyright pending). But as usual, the best course of action is hardly a unanimous decision. Let’s recap what happened in “The Fall.”

Reunions for Everyone: We find Big Jim where we last saw him, face to face with Pauline for the first time since her faked suicide, and the pair’s reunion is marred by clenched fists and raised voices. Jim throws a few (justified) barbs at her about destroying her son, before leaving her begging for forgiveness for finally returning. After regrouping, Pauline gives Big Jim a half-hearted reason for her reappearance (“For Junior… and you.”), to which he follows up with an apology for never believing in her visions. He also promises that, thanks to the dome, he is a changed man and they can now be a family again, something she doesn’t seem the least bit interested in.

Elsewhere, Barbie and Julia also reunite – running into each other’s arms while an escalating orchestra plays in the background, no less. Junior, having spent the night with Melanie in his bunker of horrors, gets a rude awakening when Angie, or something manifested by the dome resembling her, appears to question his intentions. Her visit is short and hardly informative, but it is enough to wipe the lovestruck grin off Junior’s face.

Plans, Plans, Plans: Rebecca and Julia put up little resistance to the idea of Barbie’s town hopping, choosing instead to move past it and make an escape plan. Barbie wants to leverage the egg, by sending Julia over the cliff with the terms of safe passage for the whole town and then Barbie will follow with the egg. But this is all a moot point because Melanie won’t cop to where it’s hidden. Trying his best to change her mind, Barbie tells Melanie about the memory he got when passing back through to Chester’s Mill – the memory of the day she and a young Barbie painted the red door. Turns out, Barbie’s father had a daughter with some woman named Laura, aka Melanie’s mother. Turns out, Barbie and Melanie are (half) brother and sister because, why not?

To sell Melanie, and a select few townsfolk, on the escape plan, Barbie, Julia and Rebecca convene them all at Sweetbriar Rose and run through the plan. Big Jim, now privy to everything, arrives and demands to not only be brought in on the action, but also lead the charge and be the first out to negotiate terms. “Love me or hate me, I get things done,” he says. They agree with the promise that Big Jim’s family remains behind as their own leverage.

An Ax to Grind: Unceremoniously reuniting with his mom, Junior learns of Sam’s return and flees to seek revenge. (Doesn’t it feel like he is always avenging something?) Busting in on his uncle’s cabin, Junior gets in a few good licks on Sam, who doesn’t put up a fight, before grabbing an ax to make it poetic. Angie, however, reappears and tells Junior that Sam still has a part to play, and if he dies, the town will suffer. Ultimately, no one gets the ax, and Angie disappears again (don’t go, Britt Robertson!).

Shaky Ground: Returning home to inform Pauline of the plan, Big Jim finds her stricken with excruciating visions. He heads out to find the source, the egg, which calls to him to its location, only to jolt him unconscious when he arrives. Joe and Norrie, also in search of the egg, show up as he comes to. With gun in tow, he threatens the pair that he will kill Joe if they don’t take the egg to the cliff. There, he knocks it over the edge, triggering an earthquake that reverberates through the whole town. In the chaos, Melanie collapses, Hunter (who has been spying for his bosses since arriving) finds no help from the outside, and a now-visionless Pauline tells Big Jim he has made a grave mistake. At the cliff, Barbie and Julia find that it is no longer endless abyss. And at the pit’s newly visible bottom, impaled on a stalagmite, is Phil, the occasional DJ, one-time sheriff and recent escaped prisoner, who, after hearing about the cliff’s escape route earlier in the episode, took his swan dive a bit too late.

What did you think of Monday’s episode? Sad to see Phil go? Curious to see what happens now that the egg is no longer in Chester’s Mill? Where did it go? Will Pauline be without her visions forever? And most importantly, why can’t Angie come back more often? Let us know you thoughts!

The cast of “Under the Dome,” (l-r) Eddie Cahill, Alexander Koch, Dean Norris, Rachelle Lefevre, Mike Vogel and Colin Ford are all smiles before heading into the show’s panel at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International. — CBS photo

With production complete on season two of CBS’ locally filmed “Under the Dome,” the cast and crew have been temporarily freed from the transparent barrier. But that doesn’t mean they get to stray too far from its clutches.

Cast members Mike Vogel, Dean Norris, Rachelle Leferve, Alexander Koch, Colin Ford and Eddie Cahill, along with showrunner Neal Baer, appeared at the 2014 Comic-Con International Thursday to spill the beans on what’s in store for the show’s currently in progress second season.

We meticulously mointored the show’s official Twitter – as well as HitFlix, Give Me Your Remote and The Hollywood Reporter’s live tweeting – to stay up to date on all of the news coming from the event. Here is what we learned:

Following a clip from episode seven, which showed Barbie (Vogel) falling into deep cavern, the first order of business for the panel, moderated by “Insider’s” Kevin Frazier, was addressing the show’s affinity for killing off characters.

“We kept the body count down for the beginning of the season so we can rev it up towards the end,” said Baer, noting that, in the writer’s room, the team has created a “heaven” of sorts by placing pictures of the departed characters on the ceiling.

But, as seen in previous episodes, death is hardly an end for some of the characters that meet their demise under the dome.

“You never know when someone’s going to go and you never know when they’ll come around again,” Koch said.

One of the show’s biggest new sources of drama in the new season’s first four episodes has been the increasingly tumultuous love triangle between Barbie, Julia (Leferve) and Sam (Cahill). While Norris joked that Julia’s romantic entanglements are scandalous considering her husband only died a few weeks ago, Vogel added that his character’s relationship with Julia is “a difficult line to walk.”

On the subject of Barbie, who has risen from mysterious outsider to reluctant hero for the people of Chester’s Mill, Vogel said he will continue to find his purpose while trapped in the dome.

“He really is there for the people and there to defend the defenseless,” Vogel said.

While talking about his character’s path, Koch, who plays Junior Rennie, mentioned that the vicious murder of former girlfriend Angie (Britt Robertson) will continue to weigh heavy on the deputy, who desperately seeks “love and affection.” But will the urgent need for answers to her killer’s identity trump his new-found knowledge that his mother is still alive?

“He wants to find the murderer first and foremost,” Koch said.

Baer teased for the crowd that one character will get out of the dome this season, but stopped short of revealing who that lucky (or unlucky?) person would be.

Only furthering the mystery, Vogel added that, “They come up with a fun and interesting way of broadening our world.”

According to Leferve, broadening the show’s world will also allow the writers to give viewers their first glimpse at how the dome is affecting life outside of Chester’s Mill and what the rest of the world is preparing to do about it.

Giving brief mention to Wilmington, Ford spoke to the big-city crowd about what makes the local film industry the perfect place to produce the show.

“Filming in a smaller town like Wilmington gives Chester’s Mill a real small town feel,” Ford said.

As they move forward into season two, Baer explained that the end of the season will mark one month under the dome for the characters. That pushes the series far past Stephen King’s books, which only lasted eight days.

But breaking away from his book hasn’t stopped King, who is an executive producer on the show, from being invested in where the story goes. Baer told the crowd that King reads every script and loves when they kill off characters.

“He wants us to kill more. So he was very happy by the end of this season.” Baer said.

Having only aired episode four this week, season two has nine more action-packed installments left to go. And Leferve believes that the mysterious dome may take a back seat to the characters’ other issues.

“For many of the characters, being under the dome is not their biggest problem,” Leferve said.

In a bit of cheeky fun, the panel was asked who would they take under the dome if given the chance. The answers varied from Cahill’s desire to tie his kids to his wife so he could bring all of them, to Leferve’s admission that she would bring actor Clive Owen.

Karla Crome stars as Rebecca Pine, a Chester’s Mill High science teacher who plays an active role in investigating the dome in season two of CBS’ locally filmed “Under the Dome.” — CBS photo

In this week’s “Under the Dome,” Karla Crome was tied to a chair as acid rain was poured down her back. It was only her third episode on the show.

The London-based actress’ introduction into the world of the locally filmed CBS summer series has been a swift and eventful one. Her character, Rebecca Pine, a savvy science teacher at Chester’s Mill High School, first appeared in the second season premiere, having spent the two weeks covered in season one studying the dome away from the action.

Rebecca subscribes to the idea that everything under the transparent barrier can be explained by science, not by the fantastical phenomena that many of the characters have come to believe in. Now, as Rebecca begins to put her research and steadfast theories to the test, she has quickly found herself in the crosshairs of her fellow residents and the dome itself.

“(She seeks) the rational explanation of things.” said Crome, on the show’s high school set on the EUE/Screen Gems Studios lot. “Of course, we are in a situation that can’t be explained, so she goes into things headfirst and gets herself into trouble.”

In her first three episodes, as conditions under the dome have become more dire, Rebecca has arisen as a bearer of bad news, whether the rest of Chester’s Mill wants hear it or not. But with her undeniable intellect, Rebecca has also come to be the town’s resident problem solver, proposing a towering magnet in the premiere to counteract the dome’s magnetic pulses, spotting the crop infestation in episode two and ultimately calculating that the dwindling food supply will require the town to, as she put it in this week’s episode, “selectively thin the herd.”

It’s that inquisitive nature that Crome believes would have led to big things for Rebecca, had she not returned to Chester’s Mill before the dome came down.

“Rebecca probably would have had quite a promising career in chemical engineering or something like that,” Crome said. “But she has been inadvertently drawn back to Chester’s Mill.”

Exactly what brought Rebecca back to town is something Crome vaguely calls “personal reasons,” but promises they will be explored as the season moves forward.

Even with the dome causing weekly mayhem, don’t expect Rebecca to lose her educator instincts, especially when it comes to working alongside former student Joe (Colin Ford) and his love interest, Norrie (Mackenzie Lintz).

“They kind of bounce off each other a bit when it comes to understanding what is going on,” Crome said. “Rebecca looks at this dome as an extension of her own classroom, more so as a conundrum and problem to be solved rather than something to be feared.”

Crome’s role on “Under the Dome” marks her first trip to North Carolina, which she says is “gorgeous” and different from what she expected. Before being cast on the series, the actress had only a little knowledge of the show, but said, laughing, that her “mum” was a big fan.

Now very much in tuned to show, based on the Stephen King novel of the same name, Crome said she has enjoyed getting to see the second season unfold, and thinks it is only raising the bar set by season one.

“In this second season, the stakes are rising because these people can’t get out of this dome and their resources and their environment are depleting,” she said. “Society is breaking down, the dome is closing in around them and it is turning into a nightmare state.”

While “Under the Dome” is only three weeks into its 13-episode second season, fans are already becoming suspicious of whether Rebecca will prove to be a friend or a foe for the show’s core cast of characters. But to Crome, Rebecca’s motives may not be so easily discernible.

“I don’t think Rebecca believes there is a good or bad,” Crome said, holding back anything spoilery about her character. “I think she believes in efficiency and sometimes that gets her into trouble. It is a questionable moral compass for her.”

“Under the Dome” airs 10 p.m. Mondays on CBS. Be sure to read our recap of this week’s episode, which was a particularly tense one for Rebecca.

“Under the Dome’s” ratings were not bogged down by the rain that fell on Chester’s Mill Monday.

The acid rain-drenched episode pulled in 7.6 million viewers, down only slightly from last week’s 7.7 million. In the 18-49 age demographic, the series gained momentum, rising two tenths from last week’s series low 1.7 rating to 1.9 Monday.

“Under the Dome’s” Dean Norris will star as Benjamin Franklin in History Channel’s miniseries, “Sons of Liberty.” — AP photo

“Under the Dome’s” Dean Norris may want to stop by the set of “Sleepy Hollow” to brush up on his American History before his next role.

History Channel announced Wednesday that Norris, who will wrap season two of the locally filmed CBS summer series next month, has signed on to fill the bifocals of one of the nation’s founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, in the network’s latest miniseries, “Sons of Liberty,” chronicling the rise of America’s original revolutionaries.

In the six-hour miniseries, Norris’ brilliant but mischievous Franklin will brush shoulders with Sam Adams (“The Chronicles of Narnia’s” Ben Barnes), Joseph Warren (“The Blacklist’s” Ryan Eggold) Paul Revere (“Once Upon a Time’s” Michael Raymond James) John Hancock (“Prometheus'” Rafe Spall) and John Adams (“Gangs of New York’s” Henry Thomas) as they band together to bring America it’s independence.

But Norris won’t be the only one tackling Franklin on the small screem. This fall, “Sleepy Hollow’s” revisionist history will introduce the wise inventor into its apocalyptic storyline as a mentor of Ichabod Crane’s (Tom Mison). “The West Wing’s” Timothy Busfield will step into the recurring role for the Fox series.

If you missed out on any of the earth-shattering revelations on the first season of CBS’ locally filmed summer series “Under the Dome,” don’t panic! They’re still under the dome.

But to make sure you are all caught up for the new season, currently in production in the region, CBS has announced that it will air an hour-long recap special, titled “Under the Dome: Inside Chester’s Mill,” 10 p.m. Monday, June 23.

The special will feature a rehash of all the first season’s big moments, as well as new interviews with the cast and crew. And just to dangle one last tease in front of fans, those who tune into the special will get a sneak peek at the footage of the new season, which will premiere the following week with an episode written by Stephen King.

To stay update to date on all of the news coming out of the local production, check back with the “Under the Dome” page over at the StarNews.

Members of the “Under the Dome” cast Dean Norris and Rachelle Lefevre and executive producer Neal Baer spoke to the media at CBS’s Summer Press Day In Los Angeles Monday about the locally filmed summer series and spilled scoop about the new season starting 10 p.m. June 30. Here’s what we learned:

– A “Different” Big Jim: Baer started the panel by revealing this season of “Under the Dome” will be one of transformation for many of the characters. Speaking about his villainous alter ego Big Jim Rennie, who rose to become somewhat of a tyrannical leader by the end of the first season, Norris said that the former used car salesman will have a “come to dome” moment that forces him to reevaluate his “mission and his personal trajectory.” Norris added, “He realizes a different kind of Big Jim is needed to survive under the dome this season.”

– Leaving town: The producers have been teasing the deaths of two main characters in the Stephen King-penned premiere for months, but press were given a first glimpse at one of those deaths, some describing it as “grisly.” Baer assured, however, that death only means so much on this show. “That doesn’t mean that we won’t necessarily see them again, because anything is possible under the dome,” he said.

– New (and departing) faces: New characters set to be introduced this season include Sam (Eddie Cahill), Big Jim’s brother-in-law; Rebecca (Karla Crome), the school teacher who will bring science into conversations about the dome; and Pauline (Sherry Stringfield), a role rumored to be Big Jim’s late wife. But they might not be the only new characters. Baer teased that some people may be getting out of the dome and other may be coming in over the course of the season. One new character, a teenage computer whiz named Hunter, will be introduced digitally when a break in the dome allows his internet messages to get through to Chester’s Mill.

– More, bigger effects: Baer said expect to see more effects and bigger effects in the new season. One of those big effects might have something to do with the now-magnetized dome, which has major ramifications in the season premiere. Episode 6 will also feature “raging dust storms” popping up in Chester’s Mill.

– “ER” reunion: Eriq La Salle will direct episode 10 of the season season, reuniting him with fellow “ER” alum Stringfield, who will guest star in the episode.

– Like Father, Like Son: Entertainment Weekly reported shortly before the panel that Barbie (Mike Vogel) will come face to face with his father Don this season. Brett Cullen (CBS’ “Person of Interest”) will play the fatherly figure, described as the powerful and charming leader of a multi-national corporation. “Barbie is shocked to find himself face to face with his father in an unforgettable turn of events,” Baer said.

Is it June 30 yet? Thanks to USA TODAY, which just released the first look at season two of “Under the Dome,” you are going to wish it was.
In the article, which includes several new photos by local photographer Brownie Harris, it is revealed that the Stephen King-penned season premiere, airing 10 p.m. June 30, will be titled “Heads Will Roll” and will feature a cameo from the legendary writer himself. King will appear as a patron of Sweetbriar Rose Diner in the episode.… Read More »

There won’t be any Port City shows represented in Sunday’s telecast of the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, but that doesn’t mean the area won’t have a little presence at TV’s biggest night. “Under the Dome” star and local favorite Dean Norris will be a presenter at the ceremony, which honors acting, writing and directing. Norris plays the villainous “Big” Jim Rennie on the CBS series, which aired its season finale on Monday night. The show is returning to film season… Read More »

About This Blog

Hi! My name is Hunter Ingram and I’m the film/TV reporter for StarNews Media. I will be the primary blogger for WilmonFilm, but other staffers, including Community Engagement Editor Jeff Hidek and freelance reporter Brian Tucker, are likely to contribute from time to time.

With this blog, I aim to be Southeastern North Carolina’s go-to source for all things film and TV. Wilmington and its surrounding areas are rich with intriguing projects, from the big-budget blockbusters to the small-scale, high-impact independent films. I will post everything from breaking news to offbeat features that will cover every facet of the entertainment news emerging from the area. So bookmark this page and be on the lookout every day for new posts!

While we may be hard at work reporting on the stories we get, we also want your tips, reactions and ideas. Got a story idea that is itching to be heard? E-mail or call me! Want to say something about a post? Leave a comment.